Tennis-racket construction



May 18 1926.

W. C. RASTETTER TENNIS RACKET CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5. 1924 WmmATTOR'NEY Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. RASTETT B, OF FOB/'1. WAYNE, INDIANA.

TElTNIS-RACKET CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 5,

This invention relates to improvements in tennis racket constructionwherein a strip of wood is bent in the form of a loop and with its endsconnected to a handle, there being a wooden block, or heart, interposedbetween the ends of the strip at their juncture with the handle, theloop of the frame being strung with a series of longitudinal andtransverse strands. In ordinary practice some of the strands extendthrough holes in the heart and adjacent portions of the bent strip,which openings, especially at their upper ends where the strands emergeinto the loop, are left exposed and unprotected as well as the topsurface of the heart which extends in a plane transverse to the grain ofthe wood of which the heart is made. In some instances an extra strip ofwood or other material is superimposed upon the exposed top surface ofthe heart to cover the end grain and is held thereon by glue.

The templates the provision of a shelter for the top of the heart inconjunction with a securing means for clamping the heart permanentlybetween the shelter and the corresponding adjacent portions of the loopstrip, and incidentally to aiford openings through which some of thestrands are strung.

The object of the improvement is accomplished by the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawing which is a fragmentary elevationof a tennis racket structure embodying the invention.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in thedrawing and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a tennis racket frame made of a wooden strip 1bent to form a loop, the ends 2 of the strip being connected with ahandle 3, there being a wooden block 4: interposed between the oppositeportions of the strip adjacent their juncture with the handle. Upon thetop of the heart is positioned a metallic shelter which consists of asaddle 5 permanently and rigidly held thereon by opposite groups oftubular nipples 6 that extend through the corresponding portions of theloop strip 1 and the heart, and have threaded connections respectivelywith the saddle. Each nipple extends entirely through the saddle and hasan axial opening 7 throughout its object of the present invention con-1924. Serial No. 704,379.

length. Also, each nipple has at its end opposite the saddle a head 8that is countersunk into the strip 1, there being a washer 9 interposedback of the head After the nipples have been lodged in place so that theheart is clamped between the saddle and the corresponding adjacentportionsof the loop strip, the upper ends of the nipples are dressed offflush with the top of the saddle.

The frame is then strung in the usual manner. In the present instancethose longitudinal strands 10 that ordinarily extend through the heartare drawn through the corresponding nipples which are made hollow fortheir reception.

' By arranging the two groups of nipples so that those of one groupextend divergently relative to those of the other group of nipples, theopposite portions of the strip through which the nipples extend arebraced and the heart is clamped against said portions by the saddle, andthus a high degree of rigidity in the frame structure is attained.

What I claim is 1. In a tennis racket construction, a frame made of awooden strip bent in the form of a loop; a handle in connection with theends of the strip; a wooden heart interposed between those portions ofthe strip adjacent their juncture with the handle; a metallic sheltersuperimposed upon the top of the heart and extending thereover; andopposite groups of nipples extending through the opposite portions ofthe strip and the heart, each nipple having threaded connection with theshelter and a head at its opposite end countersunk in the strip, therebeing an axial opening extending throughout the length of each nipplefor the reception of the corresponding strands of the racket, thenipples of one of said groups extending divergently relative to thosenipples of the opposite group.

2. In a tennis racket including a frame having a loop formed of a bentwooden strip and a handle connected with the ends thereof and a woodenheart interposed between those portions of said strip adjacent theirjuncture with the handle, a metallic saddle completely covering the topof the heart; and opposite relatively divergent groups of nipplesextending through the heart and engaging those corresponding portions ofthe strip adj aeent the heart and the Saddle for clampmg the interposedheart between the saddle and said portions of the strip, there being a:longitudinal axial opening extending throughout the length of eachnipple for the reception of the correspond ing strands of the racket.

3. In a tennis racket including a frame having a loop formed of a bentwooden strip and a handle in connection with the ends of the strip, awooden heart interposed between those portions of the strip adjacenttheir juncture with the handle; a metallic shelter superimposed upon thetop of the heart; and means engaged in the portions of the stripadjacent the corresponding sides of the heart, and. the-shelter forcla-mp ing the heart, between the shelter and said to a of the hearthavin connections throu h the heart with the corresponding portions ofthe strip adjacent the heart and affording openings therethrough for thecorresponding strands of the racket.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM G. RASTETTER.

